Christ in the Old Testament

Isaiah 65:9

I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
    and from Judah those who will possess my mountains;
my chosen people will inherit them,
    and there will my servants live. (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 65:8-12

Recall that as we studied Isaiah 53, most of that chapter was written from the perspective of the Jewish redeemed remnant spoken about in the end times. Our verse today in Isaiah 65:9 is one of the places where that promise is spoken. As of today, the Jews as a whole reject Jesus as their Messiah. But there will be a day when a significant remnant of Jews have the veil lifted from their eyes where they see Jesus clearly and accept him as their Lord and Savior.

This promise begins in Isaiah 65:8 where God says, “I will not destroy them all.” Just like when a winemaker finds a cluster of grapes with the juice still in them, he preserves that cluster to use in his wine. God will find a remnant of His chosen people who accept His son as their Messiah and he will preserve them. This has been prophesied many times such as:

“So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened” (Rom 11:5-7).

“In that day the remnant of Israel,
    the survivors of Jacob,
will no longer rely on him
    who struck them down
but will truly rely on the Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel.
A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob
    will return to the Mighty God.
Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel,
    only a remnant will return.
Destruction has been decreed,
    overwhelming and righteous.
The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out
    the destruction decreed upon the whole land” (Isa 10:20-23).

Many scholars believe they are numbered in the book of Revelation:

“Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: ‘Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel” (Rev 7:2-4).

As with anything in Scripture, until it happens we can’t be sure this is the number of the remnant or if this number simply symbolic of this remnant and more or less will be saved. However, the fact still stands that God will preserve a remnant of Jews upon Jesus’ return to earth. And all those who call Jesus their Lord and Savior will be with that Jewish remnant standing before Jesus:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev 7:9).

And Revelation tells us what it will be like to stand before Jesus:

“They are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’” (Rev 7:15-17).

That will indeed be a great day!

Today’s Prayer: Thank you Jesus that one day I will stand before your throne with you as my shepherd. Help me to serve you today just as I will serve you when that day comes.